What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scio has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Ward has the oldest population (median age 57.3).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scio	Ward
People
Population	1,495Highest	384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.9% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	47.4±10.3Lowest 19% above NY	57.3±5.6Highest 44% above NY
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.4%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	34.9%±11.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,426±$11kLowest 27% below NY	$75,104±$15kHighest 13% below NY
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,100±$27kLowest 72% below NY	$133,800±$31kHighest 68% below NY
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$158Lowest 47% below NY	$1,075±$207Highest 34% below NY
	Ward and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,227Highest 51% below NY	$3,118Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±34.3Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Scio and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	40 minHighest 24% above NY
Work from home	6.3%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9%	4.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Scio and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.